RADIUM FUND.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 August 1924, Page 9

RADIUM FUND.

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY. PPOINTE D DEPUTATION. (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 21. Cabinet has decided that it can give a subsidy of only 10s in the £ to appeals such as tha£ of the Radium F und Committee, and the maximum for centre 'is not to exceed £SOOO. “I am very sorry to disappoint you, but disappoint'you’l must,” said the Prime Minister’ to a deputation which waited on him and Sir Maui Pomare this morning to urge that at least a £ for £ subsidy should be paid by the Government on the amount collected in connectin with the radium appeal. The deputation pointed out that the people had been led to believe that the Government would .subsidise the amount collected, and they feared that if it was not granted the public would regard is as a breach of faith. Sir M. Pomare: “Who gave the assurance ?” Mr Mitchell replied: “1 was led to understand that the committee generally was given to understand that it is on the Statute Book.” Mr Massey: “It is not on the Statute Book.” Sir M. Pomare: “Did not Sir Francis Bell warn you that the Government would not subsidise?” Mr Mitchell: “There was no definite warning. He said it was a matter for the Government.” Mr Massey said it was quite certain that the Government was going to have appeals from other centres besides Wellington. The plain truth was that the appeals for subsidies have bejjtome so numerous that the Government could not stand up to them.